Category Archives: About

Exciting News!

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Hello All,
My submission entitled “Supporting LGBTQ Parents: Tips for Doulas ” has been accepted into an upcoming anthology! The name of the book is tentatively titled “Round the Circle: Experienced Doulas Share What They Learned the Hard Way.” The anthologist is the well established local birth worker, Julie Brill. I am so honored to have my piece chosen. Hopefully other prenatal, birth, and postpartum workers will find it useful.

Updates on the book and the publishing date to come.

Thanks for all your support.

Rachel

What is a postpartum doula?

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You have probably heard of a birth doula, a supportive trained professional, who can advocate for the birthing parent and help guide them through the labor process. But maybe you haven’t heard of a postpartum doula. What is this other doula, you may ask?

A postpartum doula’s job is to facilitate your new role as a parent in the early weeks and months, helping with the transition involved in making space for your new family member. Those early days, when everything you figure out changes day to day; when you are so sleep deprived you can’t remember your name; when it feels like the baby will never eat, sleep, or just be with any sort of regularity. A postpartum doula is there to help with all of that.

Many people spend great time and energy managing pregnancy and preparing for the birth, and they forget to plan for the actual baby!

The postpartum doula is there is help you have a smooth(er) adjustment to new parenthood.  Studies have shown that new parents who have social support during the postpartum period tend to have less postpartum depression, breastfeed for a longer duration, and make a better adjustment to parenthood.

Here are some important ways a postpartum doula can help you adjust:

  • assistance with breastfeeding, bottlefeeding and/or pumping
  • information about breast care/issues
  • guidance with sleep and soothing techniques
  • vegetarian meal planning/preparation
  • light housekeeping
  • instructions on baby wearing
  • creating plans for the birth parent’s health and wellness
  • support around the birth experience/recovery
  • partner inclusion around bonding and caring for the new baby
  • 24/7 support via phone or email

Feel free to contact me with any further questions about what a postpartum doula can do for your family, or to have a free in home consult before your baby is born.

CAPPA Certified

Aside

After completing my training in January 2012 and working all year to complete the requirements, I just received my CAPPA Certification!

Welcome!

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Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to view my website.

I am passionate about supporting new families. I believe that the right kind of support can empower new parents to bond with their new family member and truly enjoy those first few weeks and months of parenthood.

Parenting has become an increasingly isolating task in our society and I look forward to helping new families break that isolation, figure out the kinds of support they need, and then providing that support or refer them to someone who can.

My approach is both practical and holistic, focusing on the small day-to-day tasks that can make new parenthood easier as well as thinking about the emotional well-being of the entire family. The basic idea of a postpartum doula is that the new parents need someone to take care of them  so that they can take care of their new baby.

Check out the Services section of my website for a greater understanding of what a postpartum doula can offer. Feel free to contact me with any questions.